(Kassandra P.O.V)

The next day, Harry and I confided in Ron, Ryan, and Hermione the task that Dumbledore had set for us, though separately in regards to Hermione. She still refused to remain in Ron's presence longer than it took to give him a contemptuous look. 

"Hermione, I know you have mixed feeling right now. But this is serious." I told Hermione. And I wasn't going to take no for an answer. 

"Alright. Fine." She caved in. 

And by the time we were done. This happened. 

"Oh, that'll be a piece of cake." Ryan commented.

"He loves you." Ron said over breakfast, waving an airy forkful of a fried egg. "Won't refuse you two anything, will he? Just hang back after class this afternoon and ask him." 

Hermione, however, took a gloomier view. "He must be determined to hide what really happened if Dumbledore couldn't get it out of him." She said in a lowly voice, as we stood in the deserted, snowy courtyard at break. "Horcruxes... Horcruxes... I've never even heard of them..." 

"You haven't?" Harry asked, disappointed. Usually Hermione was the one who knew this type of stuff. "Well... no matter... Kassie knows." 

"You do?" Hermione asked.

I nodded. "It is an object in which a Dark Wizard or Witch had hidden a fragment of his or her soul in order to become immortal. As long as the object remains intact, so does the soul fragment inside it, keeping the maker anchored to the world of the living, even if their body suffers fatal damage. Fatal enough for the Fates to cut your string." I answered. "They can only be created after committing murder, the supreme act of evil, as a means to tear the soul. It involves a spell and horrific act performed soon after the murder was committed."  

"Damn." Ryan said. 

"It's a direct insult to the Gods." Horus commented. "It's a creation that should not exist. Osiris gets furious every time someone uses it." 

That didn't shock me. Hades is the same way.

"How is it that you know about Horcruxes, Kassie?" Hermione asked.

"Because there is a legend years ago. Dating back to the Ancient Era. By Herpo the Foul. He was one of the first Wizards to coin the term of the Dark Arts. He created many vile curses and could speak to Snakes. Which made sense seeing as how he was the son of Asclepius. But his ambition grew far powerful. He acquired a great understanding of the nature of the soul, and how murder affected it. Armed with his knowledge and ruthlessness, he deliberately committed murder with the intention of splitting his soul, sealing it inside an object. Hence, the Horcrux. I believe he intended to become a God himself." I explained. "But, when the Gods learned of the creation of the Horcrux." I shivered. "Boy, were they mad." 

"That would be an understatement, Kassandra." Horus commented. And we all looked at Horus. "The anger of Hades could be felt as far as Egypt." 

"Anger of Hades?" Hermione asked. 

"Yes. Hades came to Herpo the Foul. And Herpo the Foul attempted to attack Hades. Claimed that he was now a God. But Hades... only responded that he was a disgrace to the Gods. And that he had broken the sacred laws of death by creating the Horcrux." I answered. "So, Hades attacked Herpo, destroyed the horcrux, and dragged Herpo to the depths of Tartarus itself. Just as Kronos was." 

"And now, Voldemort created a Horcrux and Slughorn told him how to?" Hermione asked.

"That's our guess. But we need to confirm it." I answered. 

"You sure it's a good idea to ask Slughorn after class?" Ryan asked. 

"Well, Ron thought it was-" Harry started to say. 

"Oh, well, if Won-Won thinks that, you'd better do it." Hermione interrupted flaring up at once. "After all, when has Won-Won's judgement ever been faulty?" 

Ron just sat there not looking at Hermione. 

"Hermione can't you-?" Harry asked. 

"No!" Hermione said angrily, storming away and leaving the rest of us. 

"Malaka." I groaned. 

"Well have fun with that." Ryan commented. "But it's not going to be easy." 

Potions lessons were now uncomfortable enough these days, seeing as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ryan and I all shared a table. And I bridged the gap between them, nevertheless. 

"That's not a good idea to use those notes, Kassie." Hermione whispered to me. "You should be using the approved-" 

"Yeah, but if I want to get close to Slughorn and get that information for Dumbledore, I have to use this. It works out well for Harry, enough." I pointed out. 

"Point... taken." Hermione replied reluctantly. "Still... if this was a sign that we were desperate. It just came knocking on the door." 

"What've you done?" I heard Ron mutter, looking at Hermione's haughty profile. 

But before Harry could answer, Slughorn called for silence from the front of the room. 

"Settle down, settle down, please! Quickly now, lots of work to get through this afternoon! Golpalott's Third Law... who can tell me-? But Mr. Tyler can, of course!" 

"Golpalott's Third Law states that the antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components." Ryan answered reciting at top speed. 

"Precisely!" Slughorn beamed. "Ten points for Gryffindor! Now, if we accept Golpalott's Third Law as true..." 

Nobody except Ryan and Hermione seemed to be listening to Slughorn. And I was just going to have to accept that stuff that it was true. Because I had no idea what they were talking about. 

"...which means, of course, that assuming we have achieved correct identification of the Potion's ingredients by Scarpin's Revelaspell, our primary aim is not the relatively simple one of  selecting antidotes to those ingredients in and out of themselves, but to find that added component that will, but an almost alchemical process, transform these disparate elements-"  

Ron was sitting on my other side, with his mouth half open, doodling absently on his new copy of Advanced Potion Making. He clearly forgot that he could no longer rely on Hermione to help him out of trouble when he failed to grasp what was going on.

"...and so." Slughorn finished. "I want each of you to come and take one of these phials from my desk. You are to create an antidote for the poison within it before the end of the lesson. Good luck, and don't forget your protective gloves!" 

Hermione had left her stool and was halfway towards Slughorn's desk before the rest of us realized it was time to move. Thankfully, Hermione was able to collect a phial for Ryan and I, and by the time Harry and Ron returned to the table, we already began. 

"You better be careful, Kassie. You have to understand the principles involved this time." Hermione advised. 

Of course I did.

Hermione gave the same advice to Harry. But she did it in a more mocking tone. "It's a shame that the Prince won't be able to help you much this time, Harry." She said in a smug tone. "No shortcuts or cheats!" 

But there had to be something in the notes involved in here. 

Until I remembered something... from my first year. What Snape had scolded Harry about. And one of those things was a Bezoar. "Hey! I got it!" I realized.

I just hoped that for the sake of Harry's reputation of being the best potion maker in the class, he could think of that too. And Hermione's expression could not have been any smugger. She was now decanting the mysterious separated ingredients of her poison into ten different crystal phials. 

I quickly ran over to the stone cupboard and rummaged within it, pushing aside unicorn horns and tangles of dried herbs until he found, at the very back, a small cardboard box on which had been scribbled the word: Bezoars.

Tyche be with me.

I quickly grabbed one of the Bezoar and seized one. And then hurried back to the Cauldron.

"Excuse me, Kassie." Harry ran up as I was coming back. He did have the same idea after all. Just as Slughorn called out: "Two minutes left, everyone!" 

And by the time, Harry got back. Time was up. "Times... up! Well, let's see how you've done! Blaise... what have you got for me?" 

I held out a Bezoar. 

"Hm. Well played, Kassie." Ryan commented to me. 

Slowly Slughorn moved around the room, examining the various ingredients. Nobody had finished, except for Ryan. And Hermione was the only one who was remotely close. Ron had given up and was merely trying to avoid breathing in the putrid fumes issuing from his cauldron. 

Slughorn reached our table last. He didn't linger over Ron's Cauldron, but backed away swiftly, retching slightly. 

But he did laugh in triumph when he came to Ryan. "Well done, Ryan. Never disappoints." He praised. 

"Thanks, sir." Ryan replied. 

"And you, Harry." He said. "What have you got to show me?" 

Harry held out his hand, a bezoar sitting in his palm. 

Slughorn looked down at it for a full seconds, and I wonder if he was going to shout at Harry. Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter. And then he saw my Bezoar, and he laughed even louder. 

"You and your friend have nerve!" Slughorn boomed, taking the Bezoars and holding them up so the class could see. "Oh, you're like your mother... and you, Kassandra. That is just remarkable improvement from you in this class. Well, I can't fault you, Harry. A bezoar would certainly act as an antidote to all these potions!" 

Hermione, who was sweaty faced and had soot on her nose, just looked absolutely as livid as Wolverine when he went berserker mode. "And you thought of a bezoar all by yourself, did you, Harry?" She asked through gritted teeth. 

I know her comment was directed towards Harry. But it felt like it still came towards me as well. And that was not the case. I actually didn't have to use the spell book.

"That's the individual spirit a real potion maker needs!" Slughorn commented happily. "Just like his Mother, she had the same intuitive grasp of potion making, it's undoubtedly from Lily he gets is... Yes, Harry, yes, if you've got a bezoar to hand, of course, that would do the trick..." 

"Though, they don't work on everything, and are pretty rare, but it's still worth to know how to mix antidotes? Right, Professor?" I asked.

"Exactly, Kassie." Slughorn beamed. "And did you know this all on your own." 

"Actually, yes. Professor Snape mentioned it to me and Harry in our FIRST YEAR! It's not exactly something you ever forget!" And it was clear that I was just looking furious at Hermione. And I just walked away from the Potions class. 

And I could hear Hermione's voice. "Kassie! I didn't mean-" 

I ran far away from the Potions Classroom to another area of the Dungeons. I knew our friendship was complicated recently. And that Hermione was at Harry's throat with this Half Blood Prince book and trying to outdue her! Which wasn't true in the slightest. But this was starting to get ridiculous! 

We were all mad at each other. Everything was falling apart! And I was sick of it! Can't I just catch one break?! Is that too much to ask?! And being alone in the dark castle, in the dungeons. I felt just as alone as I did on the First Day of Hogwarts when I arrived. And now Hermione was just mad. 

And technically speaking. Ryan was the smartest of all of us in Potions. But he didn't fight back about that. And Potions was always something I struggled with. Now with those notes, I was doing great. Better than I ever had been before. It wasn't cheating. I was using notes and they were helping me in the class. And I needed them to get through into Slughorn's good graces. It wasn't like I was trying to upstage Hermione. Which I was sure as the Gods, wasn't. It was just... urgh.   

I was back to being alone. I hated being alone. And I was sitting in a dark hallway where there was barely anything lit. I just sat down and sobbed. For so long, I had tried to keep a calm mind. Through everything. But now, I was just at this point were I was just done. I was done with all the fighting. And all the drama. And just... I was done with everything. I think I could understand now why Ryan wanted to back away. 

Eventually after a brief time... I was found by a wand. "Lumos." It said. I turned my head to see Harry standing there. "Kassie..." 

"Please just go away, Harry. I want to be alone." I dismissed. 

"Hermione was mad at me too, Kassie. You know her. She hates being outdone." Harry said. 

"She's always mad these days." I said.

"Yeah. You're not wrong." Harry admitted. "Kassie. Hermione is our friend. We're just going through a rough phase is all." 

"How do you know?" I asked. "How do you know that this isn't permanent?" 

"I don't." Harry answered. "But we have to do this. We had to try and soften him up so we could ask him about Voldemort." 

"Hermione hates me now. I just know it." I said.

"She doesn't hate you." Harry shot down. "She's just... mad at... this whole situation. Mad because she's being outdone. But that's more to me, not you. She's not mad at you." 

"Well, it sounds like she is." I replied. 

"She's not." Harry said. "And also the whole thing with Ron and Lavender isn't helping matters. Even though most of the drama is stuff that she's stirring up in the first place." 

"I know!" I also added. "Why can't she just admit she likes Ron?" 

"I don't know. Girls are crazy. Um... well... you know what I mean." Harry said.

"Yeah, I do." I assured. But then another thought occurred to me. Malaka. We were supposed to talk with Slughorn about the Horcruxes. "The Horcruxes!" I realized.

"Oh, don't sweat it." Harry shrugged off. "I already talked to Slughorn about it. Well tried to at any rate." 

"Well, what happened? Did he say anything?" I asked. 

"Um, not quite." Harry answered. "When I talked to him about it, he found out that Dumbledore sent me to get the information and he got all defensive." 

Sigh. I was afraid of that. 

"And then he slammed the door to the dungeon in my face." Harry added. 

Malaka. "It was worth a try, Harry." I replied. 

"Yeah... I think the best thing that I can do now is for the time being, we let Slughorn think we forgot all about Horcruxes." Harry informed.

It was probably the only way to lure him into a false sense of security before returning for another attack.

"Why don't you come up?" Harry asked helping me up to my feet. "This place is depressing." 

I looked around. The dim lights and dark halls weren't helping my mood. "Okay." 

As Harry and I walked out of the Dungeons, we walked by an empty hallway. Not plenty of portraits. "So... you and Neville?" Harry asked.

"What about me and Neville?" I asked nervously. Did Harry find out that Neville and I slept together?

"I was just going to ask if you two were still together." Harry explained.

"Oh, yeah. We're still together and still happy." I answered feeling a sigh of relief.

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen Neville that happy in our Dormitory before." Harry said.

"At least it's not the weird sounds that Lavender is making in our Dorms." I replied.

"Weird sounds?" Harry asked.

"Nevermind." I changed the subject quickly.

"Say, Kassie. You know about Horcruxes. Have you ever... seen one before?" Harry asked.

"Afraid not." I answered. "I only know of the Horcruxes by reputation, but I've never seen one before. No Dark Wizard would ever use one back in Greece without risking the wrath of the Gods." 

"Damn. I was hoping to ask you about what they looked like." Harry said.

"It truly depends. It would have to be something of sentimental value. Not like a Portkey item like a shoe, or a tin can. It's a highly powerful form of Dark Magic. Ancient Dark Magic. And I can't think of anything good powered by murder which is what makes a Horcrux." I explained.

"You think Slughorn told Voldemort how to make a Horcrux?" Harry asked.

"It wouldn't surprise me. You know how silver tongued Voldemort can be. Remember how he manipulated Ginny." I answered. 

"I tell you, Kassie. This whole thing, learning about Voldemort's past, finding out these dark secrets, it almost feels an awful lot." Harry told me. "Feels like we're coming down to it." 

"Yeah." I agreed. All of this buildup. And the Prophecy that lived inside of me. When push came to shove, it was going to come down to Harry and Voldemort. "You know, it feels like every year has been marked with turmoil and some crazy event. Don't you think?" I asked.

"I feel like Filch. I just cleaned up this mess." Harry admitted. "Can we keep it clean for ten minutes?" He asked jokingly. Which made me laugh.

"Well, Harry. Whatever happens. Know that I'll be by your side to the end." I assured him.

"Thanks, Kassie." Harry thanked.

We walked on, but then I had another vision. Images of a Dark Cave. Harry and I were... in the middle of water, a thousand dead hands trying to reach out for us. And... Dumbledore was on the ground almost like he was dead. 

When Harry noticed, he looked at me. "Another Vision?" He asked. 

"Yeah." I answered nervously. And I told Harry what I saw.

By the time I was done, Harry looked like he had the chills. "Dumbledore in a dark lake." Harry repeated. 

"That's what I saw. And a thousand hands on us like Zombies." I shivered.

"Best we tell Dumbledore about this as soon as we can." Harry suggested.

"You're not going to rush this information to him?" I asked surprised.

"Well, I would. But the last time I rushed into something, Sirius died." Harry answered.

Oh yeah... that.

We were about to continue, but I heard a noise coming from one of the halls. "What was that?" I asked.

"Was it Mrs. Norris?" Harry asked.

I heard closer. It sounded like... kissing? "It's probably Dean and Ginny again." I figured. "Come on. Let's go." 

Little did I know though... it wasn't Dean and Ginny. But something else.

We didn't question Slughorn again, and the Potions master reverted to his usual affectionate treatment of Harry and appeared to have put the matter from his mind. We awaited an invitation to one of his little evening parties, determined to accept this time, even if it meant that Ryan had to reschedule Quidditch Practice. But no invitation arrived, for any of us. I couldn't help but wonder if Slughorn didn't forget like I thought. And was determined to give Harry no additional opportunities to question him. He was a Slytherin after all. 

And then one day... Hermione came up to me. I just walked past. "Kassie, don't go." Hermione said.

I looked at her. "You going to take another round at me?" I asked.

Hermione just gave up. She sighed. "Kassie, that wasn't my intention-" 

"So what is it, then?" Ryan asked now standing up. "You know, Hermione. Kassie isn't doing this to upstage you. She's certainly not doing it to upstage me either."

"But it's not actually doing the work-" Hermione started to say.

"It's been helping me a ton." I interrupted. "More so than I've ever learned. I struggle with that sort of stuff, Mione. You know that." 

"If Kassie's using it for the purpose of Potions and to help her. And it's using whatever resources are available to you, so what does it matter?" Ryan asked. "Sometimes you have to learn differently than from the 'approved way'. Sometimes, you're going to have to use unorthodox methods to teach someone so they can understand it better. Believe me I know."

"And I will say, that in all fairness to Harry and Kassie. It was a good idea to use a Bezoar. I know a ton about them. I wish I could've used it." And then Ryan looked at Hermione and let her have it. "Hermione. You and Kassie are like sisters, right?" He asked.

"Yes." Hermione answered. "But-" 

"No buts." Ryan answered. "There's no shame in upstage. Hell, there's no upstage to be had at all. You know that! So what's your deal?"

"And best you stick to the truth." Horus added.

"I just... I don't like it when people think they're better than me. I'm supposed to be the best. I'm supposed to be the smart one. It's just the way things are." Hermione admitted.

"And how's that working out for you?" Horus asked.

"Not great." Hermione answered.

"You know, Hermione. Just because you're one of the best at everything, doesn't give you the right to be a jerk to everyone. Which is what you're starting to become. Especially if you make Kassie cry like that." Ryan said.

"You know, Ryan. I'm kind of surprised that you don't do that sort of stuff." Harry commented.

"Well, that didn't go so well for Emily." Ryan explained.  

"Okay." Hermione caved in. And with great effort she sighed. "I suppose I was a bit of a jerk-" 

"Suppose?" Harry asked.

"A bit?" Ryan asked.

"Okay." Hermione admitted. Then she turned to me. I was silent the whole time. "I'm sorry for saying that stuff to you, Kassie." She said.

"And?" I asked.

"And that I tried dating McLaggen to make Ron jealous." Hermione added.

"And?" I asked.

"And also for this whole drama between me and Ron." Hermione added.

"And?" I asked.

"And that I've been basically making you upset with everything that's been going on." Hermione added.

"And?" I asked with a bit of smirk.

"Alright, I get it." Hermione answered. And then she and I both hugged. "I don't think this whole drama with Ron and Lavender is going to end soon... But I am going to try... and be... and keep an open mind about things." 

"I'll hold you to that." I said.

"You want to make an Unbreakable Vow?" Ryan asked.

"That won't be necessary." Harry answered for Hermione.   

The snow melted around the school as February arrived, replaced by cold, dreary wetness. Purplish grey clouds hung low over the castle and a constant fall of chilly rain made the lawn slippery and muddy. Most of my interactions came with my boyfriend Neville. Us going out by the Castle Grounds and us dating each other as much as we could. I also wondered what Malfoy was up to. He had looked even worse than he already did.  

At least with February was out first Apparition lesson, which was scheduled for a Saturday morning so that no normal lessons were missed, taking place in the Great Hall instead of the grounds. 

When Harry, Hermione and I arrived in the hall. Ryan was going to stick with his Toon Magic and declined. Ron came down with Lavender. We found that the tables have disappeared. Rain lashed against the high windows and the enchanted ceiling swirled darkly above us as we assembled in front of McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout- the Head of Houses- and a small wizard who I assumed was the Apparition instructor from the Ministry. He was oddly colorless, with transparent eyelashes, wispy hair, and an insubstantial air, as though a single gust of wind would blow him away. 

"Good morning." The Ministry Wizard said once all of us had arrived. "My name is Willkie Twycross and I shall be your Ministry Apparition instructor for the next 12 weeks. I hope to be able to prepare you for your Apparition Tests in this time-" 

"Malfoy, be quiet and pay attention!" McGonagall barked. 

We all looked around. Malfoy had flushed a dull pink; he looked furious as he stepped away from Crabbe, with whom he appeared to have a whispering argument. I looked over at Snape who also looked annoyed. Probably because McGonagall reprimanded one of his house. That was just one theory. 

"-by which time, many of you may be ready to take your tests." Twycross continued, as though there had been no interruption. 

"As you may know, it us usually impossible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. The Headmaster has lifted this enchantment, purely within the Great Hall, for one hour, so as to enable you to practice. May I emphasize that you will not be able to Apparate outside the walls of this Hall and that you would be unwise to try. I would like each of you to place yourselves now so that you have a clear five feet of space in front of you." 

There was a great scrambling and jostling as we all separated, banging into each other and some even ordering others out of their space. The Heads of House moved among us, marshalling us into position and breaking up arguments.  

I then saw Harry move quickly through the crowd. "Um... Harry?" I asked. But he was long gone. 

"Where's Harry going?" Hermione asked.

I shrugged. "No idea." I answered. 

We then heard the four Heads of House shout: "Quiet!" And silence fell again. 

"Thank you." Twycross said. "Now then..." 

He waved his wand. And old fashioned hoops instantly appeared on the floor in front of every student. "The important things to remember when Apparating are the three D's! Destination, Determination, Deliberation!" 

I raised their hands. "Aren't there supposed to be 5 D's?" I asked.

"No, that's Dodgeball." Twycross answered. "And those would be Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge." 

"Oh..." I realized. 

"Step one: Fix your mind firmly on the desired destination." Twycross instructed. "In this case, the interior of you hoop. Kindly concentrate on that destination now." 

I looked around to check that everyone else was staring into their hoop. I should've probably done the same. I gazed at the patch of dusty floor that was enclosed by my hoop. "Concentrate. Concentrate." I said to myself. Okay. I was now thinking about that hoop. 

"Step two." Twycross said. "Focus your determination to occupy the visualized space! Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to every particle of your body!" 

A little way to my left, Ernie Macmillan was contemplating his hoop so hard that his face turned pink. Concentrate, but don't concentrate that hard apparently.  

"Step three." Twycross called. "And only when I give the command... Turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness moving with deliberation! On my command now... one-" 

I glanced around again: lots of people were looking positively alarmed at being asked to Apparated so quickly. 

"-two-" 

Okay... just think, Kassie. Think. If Jacob can do it by the time he was 15, then so can you. I fixed my thoughts on the hoop again. 

"-THREE!" 

I spun on the spot, lost balance, and fell into Hermione and on top of her. Looked like the whole hall did the same thing. They were full of staggering people. Neville was flat on his back; Macmillan, on the other hand, had done kind of a pirouetting leap into his hoop and looked momentarily thrilled, until he caught sight of Dean Thomas roaring with laughter at him.  

"Never mind, never mind." Twycross said dryly, who did not seem to have expected anything better. "Adjust your hoop, please, and back to your original positions..." 

The second attempt was no better than the first. The third was just as bad. And it wasn't until the fourth did anything exciting happen. And by exciting... I meant a horrible screech of pain and everybody around looked terrified, to see Susan Bones wobbling in her hoop with her left leg still standing five feet away from where she had started. 

The Heads of House converged on her; there was a great bang and a puff of purple smoke, which cleared to reveal Susan sobbing, reunited with her leg, but she looked horrified. 

"Splinching, or the separation of random body parts." Twycross said dispassionately. "It occurs when the mind is insufficiently determined. You must concentrate continuously upon your destination, and move, without haste, but with deliberation... thus." 

Twycross stepped forward, turned gracefully on the spot with his arms outstretched and vanished in a swirl of robes, reappeared at the back of the Hall. 

"Remember the three D's." He said. "And try again... one- two- three-" 

But an hour later, Susan's Splinching was still the most interesting thing that happened. Twycross did not seem discouraged. He fastened his cloak at his neck, and her merely said: "Until next Saturday, everybody, and do not forget: Destination. Determination. Deliberation." 

And on that note. He waved his hand, vanished the hoops, and walked out of the Hall accompanied by McGonagall. 

"Well... that sucked." I commented.

"How did you do?" Ron asked, as he hurried up towards Harry. And also Lavender was right behind Ron. But we don't need to talk about that part. He did that while I talked to Hermione. 

"So... not great in the Apparition Spell huh?" Hermione asked me.

"Not really." I answered. "Apparition is a lot harder than I thought." I answered.

"Don't sweat it, Kassie." Hermione assured. "I don't think Twycross was really expecting anyone to succeed on the first day, anyway." 

"How'd you do?" I asked. 

"Well... I've still got ways to go." Hermione answered. "But I think if we go through the 3 D's. I should get it soon." 

"Well... I guess I can always go to Jacob for advice. He can Apparate pretty well. Or Mater." I figured. 

"That's a good idea." Hermione advised. "You know, I'm surprised that Jacob hasn't applied for being a Professor at Hogwarts. I think he would be very good at it." 

I never really thought of that idea before. "Well... I guess he prefers to be an Auror then a Teacher." I assumed. "Besides, he's already the Magistrate of Hogsmeade."  

"Well, like I said... I think he would be a great Professor. He can't be any worse than Lockheart." Hermione replied.

I raised an eyebrow. "But I thought you were infatuated with Lockheart." I teased.

"Until I realized that you were right, and that Lockheart was a Fraud." Hermione replied. 

"You kept a picture of him in your Hospital Bed when you were in for the Polyjuice Potion Accident." I reminded. 

"What was I even thinking?" Hermione asked in disbelief. As if she blocked the memory out of her head. 

"Well... you were the one who brought it up." I reminded. 

"Kassie." Hermione threw her hands in embarrassment. 

We walked back to the Common Room. And Hermione went up to the Dorm. "I'm heading back up. You coming?" 

"No. I'm going to see how Harry's doing." I answered. "I'll see you later." 

I found Harry, and Ron looming over the Marauder's Map. And taking advantage of the isolation. 

"Chare." I greeted.

"Oh, hey Kassie." Harry greeted back not glancing up. 

"Hey, Kassie." Ryan got up from his bed and Ron still followed Harry's eyes. 

"What are you guys looking at?" I asked.

"Malfoy." Harry answered. "I just found out he's using Crabbe and Goyle as lookouts. He was arguing with them about it!" 

"You mean right there?" I asked as I was on the bed and tapped Malfoy's placement on the map; in the Slytherin Common Room. "He's with Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini, and Parkinson." 

"The usual suspects." Ryan figured. 

Harry looked down at the map, looking disappointed. "Well, I'm keeping an eye on him from now on." He firmly declared. "And the moment I see him lurking with Crabbe and Goyle keeping watch outside, I'll be on with the old Invisibility Cloak and off to find out what he's-" 

He broke off as Neville burst in, bringing with him a smell of singed material. "Oh, Kassie. Didn't know you were here." 

"Nev." I said getting up. 

"Sorry about the singe burns. Little incident with a fire plant." Neville smirked. 

I went up to him. "You smell like a campfire." I commented grinning. 

Neville grinned. "Yeah... but all the same. I should probably put a new set of pants on." 

Okay... Malfoy was up to something... now. And he had Crabbe and Goyle on it. If you ask me. I'd say that history was repeating itself. Merula had used Ismelda for her work in R. Now Malfoy was using Crabbe and Goyle. 

I took a walk outside the Hallways to clear my head. And I suddenly found myself walking the deserted hallways. It gave me a sense of peace. And as I walked, I noticed one hallway and walked down it. I couldn't help but think of the situation with Malfoy. Him using his close friends for his own goals, the way that Merula used Ismelda. 

But at the same time. Ismelda helped Merula because they were best friends, and Ismelda cared for Merula like a Sister. I wondered if Crabbe and Goyle were the same way to Malfoy. But with what happened to Merula. It was a tragedy. Merula's life was nothing short of tragic. Her having to live up to her parents expectations, kind of what Malfoy probably went through with his Pater.

Did that mean that... Malfoy was going through something similar? Was he really a tragic character in his own right? And could we potentially save him? Why would I though? Malfoy had been nothing but mean and cruel to me at every other level since the moment I got off the boat as a first year. He straight up called me a Greek Freak at every turn. 

But on the other hand... he did save us from Umbitch against the Red Dust. But that could've been because he was just traumatized by Slayton's treatment. Not that anyone could blame him. And if he was up to something. Just what was it? I kept these thoughts in my head as I walked the corridors, and I heard another kissing sound coming from the hallway. 

"Oh, Malaka." I thought. And I walked down another corridor before slamming head first into Titan. "Titan?" I asked. "What are you doing here?" 

Titan looked at me. "Watching." He answered. "Sophie is kissing her friend and she doesn't want to be interrupted by Ryan."

"Okay. Sorry I bumped into you- what?" I asked in shock. Did Titan just say what I thought he said? "Did you just say Sophie is kissing her friend?"

"Yes." Titan answered. "And she doesn't want to be interrupted by Ryan."  

Sophie had a boyfriend? Okay... this I had to check out! I turned the corridor to see that it was indeed Sophie kissing somebody. And many thoughts were etched into my head. Who could Sophie possibly be kissing? Did she have a boyfriend? Did Ryan know? I had to find out the answers. 

And that's when I saw it for myself. I was looking at my Best Friend's sister locking lips with my Fellow Quidditch Teammate, Claire Bradford.

"Sophie?" I asked.

And Claire and Sophie both saw me and screamed. "KASSIE!" Sophie screamed louder.

"Let's go!" Claire ran away in fear.

But Sophie didn't move. "Kassie! Uh... I can explain!" She yelled and she looked around jumping up and down.

"Sophie, you were-" I started. She was kissing Claire.

"I can explain!" Sophie repeated running up to me like she was begging.

"You and Claire-" I started, but before Sophie thrust me into one of the Empty Rooms.

"I can explain!" Sophie screamed at me when we were alone. And she was breathing heavy. "Ugh. I have to tell Titan not to let anyone disturb me." She said.

Titan jumped into the room. "I heard screaming." Titan explained.

"We're fine, Titan." I assured. Then I looked at Sophie still trembling. "We're fine, right?"

"I've... got a confession to make." Sophie admitted. "See... I'm uh... me and Claire... she's... not just my best friend. Well, she is... but... oh..." And she started to get tears in her eyes. 

"Sophie. Calm down. Just tell me what's wrong." I assured her.

"I don't like boys." Sophie confessed. "I mean... I like Ryan. He's my brother, and Ron would be my Foster Brother. But I don't like 'like' boys like dating them. I-I-I-I..." And she started stuttering up. "I like... girls." She squeaked like a mouse. "I'm, I think I might be a... Lesbian." 

Wow. By the Gods. Sophie? A Lesbian? Then again, love comes in all forms and sizes. Who was I to judge? "You're a Lesbian?" I asked.

"I think so..." Sophie answered. And then she started to cry. "Oh, please... Kassie... please don't tell Ryan and Horus! They wouldn't understand!" 

"They'd understand." I assured her. "Ryan's your brother." 

"But he could disown me if he found out I liked girls." Sophie sobbed as she hugged me. "Oh, please don't tell anybody." She begged. "Please?" 

"Calm down, Sophie. I won't tell anyone." I assured her. I mean what could I do? Sophie was crying a storm because of love. I remembered how I felt when I was in love with Neville and was worried about telling my Brothers. "But I'm sure if you talk with Ryan. He'd understand." 

Sophie still shook. "I don't think I can." She then ran out with Titan right beside her. 

What could make Sophie think that Ryan wouldn't understand? I was sure he would. Still, it was best to honor Sophie's wishes and not tell Ryan. So... I wouldn't. 

Despite Harry's determination to catch Malfoy, he had no luck at all over the next few weeks. He consulted the map as often as he could. Especially when he made a bunch of visits to the bathroom between lessons. Even though it was obvious he really wasn't. That, or he had those bean burritos for lunch. He didn't see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle moving around the castle together. But he often saw Crabbe and Goyle standing stationary in deserted corridors, but Malfoy was absent. That seemed very sus. Harry toyed with the possibility that Malfoy was actually leaving school grounds, but I did not see how that was possible. None of us did. Not without a good majority of the increased security noticing. 

"Well... I suppose that I'm just missing Malfoy among the hundreds of tiny black dots on the map." Harry said. 

"Not to mention that the three look like they're going their separate ways when they're usually inseparable." Ryan added. 

"Well... it does happen to us." I pointed out. 

"Hey... check it out." Ryan said. He could see two dots together. "It's Soph. And, oh, what a shock. She's with Claire, again." 

"Something wrong with that?" I asked.

"No." Ryan answered. "I just noticed that those two are always together these days." 

And all I did was keep my mouth shut with the knowledge that Sophie was a Lesbian. And also secretly infatuated with Claire.

February turned to March with no change in the weather except that it became windy as well as wet. To general indignation, a sign went up on all Common Room notice boards that the next trip to Hogsmeade was cancelled. 

"Malaka." I complained. I was really looking forward to seeing Jacob and Lizzie again. But at least I wasn't the only one who was furious. 

"It was on my birthday!" Ron exclaimed. "I was looking forward to that!" 

"Not a big surprise, though, is it?" Harry asked. "Not after what happened to Katie." 

Katie still hadn't returned from St. Mungo's. What was more, further disappearances were reported in the Daily Prophet, including several relatives of students at Hogwarts.

"But now all I've got to look forward to is stupid Apparition!" Ron grumpily complained. "Big birthday treat..." 

"Come on, Ron. We'll figure something out for your birthday." I assured.

Three lessons on, Apparition proved as difficult as ever, though a few more people managed to splinch themselves. And that hurts. Frustration was running high and there was a certain amount of ill feelings toward Twycross and his three D's, which inspired a number of nicknames for him, the politest being Dogbreath and Dunghead. I'll give a number of which ones were the meanest. Maybe I was better off getting my Apparation lessons from Jacob.

I woke up early on the first of March for Ron's birthday. And Ryan came up with a pretty good idea. If we couldn't go to the Three Broomsticks. We would just have to bring the Three Broomsticks to Ron. I arrived in the boys' dormitory. Seamus, and Dean weren't there. But who cares about that? 

"Happy Birthday, Ron!" I said cheerfully. I was determined to make this a great birthday for him. 

Ryan also had a horn to celebrate the birthday. 

"Cheers." Ron replied drowsily, and he began to dig into the pile of presents at the foot of his head. 

"Oh, chin up, Ron." Anubis advised him. "At least be grateful we got something. And certainly not something that ended up being a disaster." 

"He's not wrong." Ginny said. She was there as well. "You remember hearing from Charlie about Jae's Birthday?" 

"You mean when all the other Portraits in the school crashed the painting of the Three Broomsticks? How could I forget?" Ron asked. 

"And I know I don't have to remind you of that one time when Charlie decided to throw me a birthday party at home while Mum and Dad were off doing a job for the Ministry." Ginny added.

"Oof. Percy was furious." Ron commented.

"Speaking of Charlie." Ginny pulled out a letter.

"Is that from Charlie?" I asked.

"Sadly so." Ginny answered. "In his recent letter, he informed us that Bulgaria had fallen. Despite the best efforts of himself and Krum. They're fleeing to Romania and the Dragon Sanctuary." 

Oh, Gods. Another Country had fallen to Voldemort. And so many families would be misplaced. But that was war. Wasn't it?

"They lost Bulgaria?" Harry asked.

"It was really only a matter of time before Bulgaria fell. To be honest, I'm surprised it took as long as it did." Ginny answered. "Charlie's goal was to look for Krum. He found him. And now they're fleeing." 

"Here." Ryan held out some Sweets from Honeydukes. "Your favorite, Ron. I went through the passageway from Hogwarts into the Cellar of Honeydukes. It was a passageway that was refurbished traversed by the Great Sean Cormag himself."

"Oh, I know that story. Sean Cormag did it as a favor to our Ancestor, Garreth Weasley." Ginny agreed. 

Harry in the meantime, continued to rummage through his trunk. Finally he pulled, and looked through the Marauder's Map. 

"You ever think that Harry is getting a little obsessed with Malfoy?" Neville asked. 

"Malfoy's up to something. But it is making Harry start to... well get a little crazy." I admitted.

"Come on, open it up." Ryan insisted. 

Ron did open up one the presents. "Nice one, Harry!" Ron said enthusiastically, waving the new pair of Quidditch Keeper's glove Harry had given him. 

"No problem." Harry said as he scanned the Map. "Hey... I don't think he's in bed..." 

"Who isn't?" I asked.

"Malfoy." Harry answered. 

I gave Ron my present. It was a Quidditch Jersey with a number on it. In Ron's favorite Quidditch Team. "Hey! The Chudley Cannons! Cool!" Ron yelled. 

"Still think you could've gotten the Holyhead Harpies." Ginny commented. 

"You know what would be a great present? Getting rid of Lavender." Anubis noted.

And as Ryan gave his present to Ron. I joined Harry on the bed and glanced down at the Map. Malfoy was indeed missing. He wasn't at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall... nowhere near Snape, who was sitting in the study... He wasn't in the bathroom or in the Hospital Wing...

"Alright. I got to get to breakfast. See ya." Ginny left the room.

"Want one?" Ron asked thickly, holding out a box of Chocolate Cauldrons. 

"No thanks." Harry answered. "Malfoy's gone again!" 

"Can't have done." Ron said simply, stuffing a second Cauldron into his mouth. "Come on, if you don't hurry up, you'll have to Apparate on an empty stomach... Might make it easier, I suppose..." Ron looked thoughtfully at the box of Chocolate Cauldrons, and then shrugged. But before he could help himself to a third:

"Anubis... what are you doing?" Horus asked shooting a look. 

Anubis looked at Horus. "Getting Ron and I out of being around Lavender Brown, Little Brother. I see a Golden Opportunity and I am taking it!" He answered. 

"Ugh. This isn't going to end well." Horus groaned.

What wasn't going to end well? 

"I'll see you guys outside." I said and I left.

By the time, I stepped outside. Harry and Neville had quickly dressed themselves. 

"Ready?" Harry asked, calling out to Ron. 

Except... Ron had not moved, but was leaning against his bedpost, staring out at the rain washed window with a strangely unfocused look on his face. That couldn't be good. 

"Ron? Breakfast?" Ryan snapped his fingers. 

"I'm not hungry." Ron replied. 

We all stared at him. Ron was always hungry.

"I thought you just said-?" 

"Well, alright, I'll come down with you." Ron sighed. "But I don't want to eat." 

Ryan dropped his jaw down to the ground. "Say that again." He said. 

We all looked at Ron suspiciously. 

"You've just eaten half a box of Chocolate Cauldrons, haven't you?" Harry asked. 

"It's not that." Ron sighed again. "You... you wouldn't understand." 

"Fair enough." Harry replied, albeit puzzled. And I sure was puzzled too. 

"What's up with him?" I asked.

"I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out myself." Harry answered.

"Anubis. Help me out here." I requested. 

"I'm keeping my mouth shut on this one. And if all goes as plan. Ron and I will be free of that daft dimbo." Anubis said.

"Ugh. Where is Hathor when we need her?" Horus rolled his eyes. 

"Harry!" Ron shouted suddenly. "Ryan!"

"What?" They both asked. 

"Is... Ron okay?" Neville asked.

I looked nervously at Ron.

"Harry, Ryan, I can't stand it!" Ron shouted.

"You can't stand what?" Ryan asked. "Not speaking to Hermione?"  

"I can't stop thinking about her!" Ron answered hoarsely. 

We gaped at him. "Oh, Gods." I grumbled. "Ron, I swear... if you start calling Lavender: Lav-Lav. I'm putting my foot down-" 

"Why does that stop you from having breakfast?" Harry asked. It was Common Sense after all.

"I don't think she knows I exist." Ron answered with a desperate gesture. 

"Oh, she definitely knows that you exist, Ron." Ryan said just as bewildered as Harry and I. And Neville too. "She keeps snogging you, doesn't she?" 

Ron blinked. "What are you talking about?" 

"I'll do you one better. Who are you talking about?" I asked. 

"I'll do you one better. Why are you talking about?" Ryan asked. 

"Romilda Vane." Ron answered softly, and his whole face seemed to illuminate as he said it, as though he was under an enchantment of Aphrodite. 

And it was as if the whole room suddenly went silent. Like my brain had been broken. "Huh?" I asked. Where did that name come from?

"Is... this some kind of twisted joke?" Ryan asked. 

"Could you excuse us for a minute, Neville?" I requested.

"Yeah. Sure." Neville agreed and he left. 

"I think... Harry, I think I love her." Ron said in a strangled voice. 

"Okay..." Harry said. Walking up to Ron to get a better look at the glazed eyes and pallid complexion. "Okay... say that again with a straight face."

Romilda Vane? Wasn't that? 

"I love her." Ron repeated with baited breath. "Have you seen her hair? It's all black and shiny and silky... and her eyes? Her big dark eyes? And her-" 

"Okay. We get it." Ryan interrupted.

And that was when it hit me. Didn't Romilda Vane try to get Harry to eat something? 

I looked back at the box lying open on Ron's bed. I had a bad feeling about this.

"Um... Ron? Where did you get the Chocolate Cauldrons from?" I asked nervously.

"There were a birthday present!" Ron answered while he was dangling in the air. Harry must've used that Levicorpus spell on Ron. "I offered you one, didn't I?" 

"And you just picked them up off the floor, didn't you?" Harry asked. 

"They'd fallen off my bed, alright? Let me go, Harry!" Ron demanded.

"No, keep him up. I like this." Anubis replied. 

"They didn't fall of your bed, you prat, don't you understand? They were mine, I chucked them out of my trunk when I was looking for the map, they're the Chocolate Cauldrons Romilda gave me before Christmas, and they're all spiked with love potion!" Harry answered.

I looked at Harry. "Why didn't you throw them out of the trash?!" I snapped 

"It kept slipping my mind to do so." Harry answered awkwardly. 

I kept my mouth open wide in disbelief. "By the Gods!" I yelled at Harry for his stupidity.

But only one word had seemed to register with Ron. "Romilda?" He repeated. "Did you say Romilda? Harry- do you know her? Can you introduce me?" 

We all stared at the dangling Ron, who's face now looked tremendously hopeful. 

"Harry, this is bad." I said. "He's not in his right mind. We need to get help." 

"Fine." Harry sighed. Then he turned to Ron. "Yeah, we'll introduce you. I'm gonna let you down now, okay?"  

He then let Ron crash back to the floor, but he simply bound to his feet again, grinning. 

"She'll be in Slughorn's office." Ryan said confidently, leading the way to the door. 

"Yes, Slughorn's office!" Harry mimed.

"Slughorn's office?" I asked.

"Why will she be in there?" Ron asked anxiously, hurrying to keep up. 

"Oh, she has extra Potions lessons with him." Harry answered, inventing wildly. 

"Maybe I could ask if I can have them with her." Ron said eagerly. 

"You know what, Romilda would love that." Ryan declared. 

"Why can't you be the one to do it, Ryan?" I asked.

"And ruin the story's plot? No thanks." Ryan answered as he held up a Folder that said: 'Half Blood Prince Screenplay.'

"What plot?" I asked. 

"Nevermind." Ryan answered. 

"We've got to go to Slughorn." Harry insisted. "Besides. Maybe we could take the time to grill about the Horcruxes." 

That made sense to me. 

Unfortunately, Lavender was waiting beside the portrait hole. "Uh... this is a problem." I commented. 

"Oh, perfect." Ryan grumbled.

"You're late, Won-Won!" Lavender pouted. "I've got you a birthday-" 

"Leave me alone." Ron said impatiently. "Harry, Kassie, and Ryan are gonna introduce me to Romilda Vane." 

"Sorry, Lavender. We've got a situation. Really big. I'll explain later. Bye." Ryan said as we all pushed Ron out of the portrait hole. And as I looked over to Lavender, she looked more offended than ever as the Fat Lady shut behind us. And right past Sophie who held up a present.

"Sorry, Soph. We've got to take Ron to Slughorn." Ryan apologized.

"Okay. Tell him I said hello." Sophie replied just standing there.

I just hoped that Slughorn wouldn't be at breakfast. But at the very least, he answered his office door at the first knock, wearing a green velvet dressing gown and matching nightcap and looked rather bleary eyed. 

"Harry? Kassandra? Ryan?" He mumbled. "This is very early for a call... I generally sleep late on Saturday..." 

"We're so sorry to bother you, Professor." I said as quickly as possible. "But this is an emergency. Our friend Ron... he-" 

"He accidentally swallowed a Love Potion. And we need help making an antidote. Can you help us?" Ryan requested. 

"We'd take him to Madam Pomfrey, but we're not supposed to have anything from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and, you know... awkward questions..." Harry added.

"Bring him in." Slughorn told us. 

We brought Ron in. 

"I'd have thought you could have whipped up a remedy between the three of you, expert Potioneers like yourselves?" Slughorn commented.

"Er..." Harry said awkwardly. Somewhat distracted by the fact that Ron was now elbowing Harry in the ribs in an attempt to force his way into the room.

"We thought this called for more practiced hands." I answered for Harry. "And by the time we got it right, Ron might've done something serious." 

Ron chose that moment to moan. "I can't see her- is he hiding her?" 

"Good call." Slughorn admitted. "Was this potion within date?" He asked, now eyeing Ron with professional interest. "They can strengthen, you know, the longer they're kept."

"They've been there since Christmas." Ryan answered. 

"Well... that would explain a lot." Harry panted, not positively wrestling with Ron to keep him from knocking Slughorn over. Although it was a fat chance of that happening.  

"Did I mention that it was also his birthday?" I asked.

"Oh, alright." Slughorn relented. "I've got the necessary ingredients here in my bag, it's not a difficult antidote..."  

Ron then was still struggling with as he tripped over a footstool, regained his balance by seizing me around my neck and muttered: "She didn't see that, did she?" 

"No." I answered. "Anubis. Can't you do anything about this?" 

"No." Anubis answered. "This has to happen. And I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get out of Ron's crazy love life. If it means we've got to it this way, so be it." 

Ron took over again. "How do I look?" He asked Slughorn. 

"Very handsome." Slughorn answered smoothly handing Ron a glass of clear liquid. "Now drink that up, it's a tonic for the nerves, keep you calm when she arrives, you know." 

"Brilliant." Ron answered eagerly, and he gulped the antidote down noisily. 

We watched him. For a moment, Ron beamed at us. Then, very slowly, his grin snagged and vanished, to be replaced by an expression of utmost horror. "Oh, what happened?" Ron asked. 

"Ron, are you okay?" I asked. Harry, Ryan, and Slughorn chuckled. 

"Fine now." Ron answered. 

"Thanks a lot, Professor." I thanked. At least Ron was back to normal. 

"Don't mention it, girl, don't mention it." Slughorn said as Ron collapsed into a nearby chair, looking devastated.

"Well... my work is done." Ryan then left for the door. "I'm going over to Breakfast." 

"See you, Ryan." We all said to him. 

"Bye, Ryan." Ron waved goodbye, but still collapsed in the armchair. 

"Pick-me-up, that's what he needs." Slughorn continued, now bustling over to a table loaded with drinks. "I've got butterbeer, I've got wine, I've got one last bottle of this oak matured mead... hmm... meant to give that to Dumbledore for Christmas... ah, well..." He shrugged. "He can't miss what he's never had! Why don't we open it now and celebrate Mr. Weasley's birthday? Nothing like a fine spirit to chase away the pangs of disappointed love..." 

He chortled again, and Harry and I joined in. I know Harry tried to get the information from Slughorn before. But that was without me, as I was upset about something unrelated. Perhaps with both of us, we could get him to tell us. Just had to give him enough of the mead. 

"There you are then." Slughorn handed us a glass of mead each before raising his own. "Well, a very happy birthday, Ralph-" 

"It's Ron." I whispered. 

But Ron, who did not appear to be listening to the toast, had already thrown the mead down his mouth and swallowed it. 

"Well... this'll be interesting." Anubis smirked. 

Judging from the way Anubis said that. I knew that something was wrong. 

"Um, Anubis? What did you mean by that?" Harry asked. 

Slughorn didn't even notice. 

"-and may you have many more-" 

"Ron!" 

Ron dropped his glass, he half rose from his chair and then crumbled, his extremities jerking uncontrollably. Foam dripped from his mouth, and his eyes bulged from their sockets.  

"Malaka!" I yelled, trembling. 

Slughorn seemed as paralyzed as a victim of the Basilisk. Ron twitched over and choked. His skin turned blue. 

"What- but-" Slughorn spluttered. 

"Come on!" Harry grabbed me and we sprinted over to Slughorn's open potion kit. 

Ron was in trouble. And from the way it was going. Anubis was just going to let it happen. Though why, was anyone's guess. 

I began to get tears in my eyes as I pulled out jars and pouches, the terrible sound of Ron's gargling breath filled the room. 

"Where is it? Where is it?" Harry asked.

"I got it!" I took the Bezoar and wrenched open Ron's jaw and thrust the Bezoar into his mouth. Ron gave a great shudder, a rattling gasp, and his body became limp and still. 

But for a brief minute, Anubis took over. "Sorry about that, Ron. But it had to be done. I can't take being in a relationship with that girl anymore." He said.